Man with $250,000 in cocaine heads to trial

A Livingston County man who denies being a “cocaine kingpin,” but who allegedly had upward of $250,000 worth of cocaine in his home, is heading to trial.

On Wednesday, District Judge L. Suzanne Geddis bound over the felony charges filed against John Charles Kuhns after hearing testimony that undercover narcotics officers found one-half kilo of cocaine and 118 marijuana plants in Kuhns’ home on Mason Road in Howell in July.

The Howell narcotics officer testified that officers executed a search warrant at Kuhns’ home the afternoon of July 8 and found a “brick” of cocaine in the oven as well as plastic packaging consistent with “smuggling drugs” and two firearms on the kitchen table.

The officer described the brick as 4 inches by 4 inches and about 1.5 inches to 2 inches thick. Its total weight was about 410 grams — or 14 ounces — of uncut cocaine.

The officer testified that in Livingston County cocaine sells for about $1,500 per ounce and that price increases to $2,500 when the cocaine is cut into 8-balls. An 8-ball is one-eighth of an ounce or about 3.5 grams.

In all, the officer estimated the cocaine’s street value between $21,000 and $250,000 depending on how it’s cut and sold.

The officer also testified that undercover drug officers found a third weapon in Kuhn’s bedroom as well $880 in cash, heroin, digital scales and 28 grams of marijuana.

In the two-story home’s basement officers found two marijuana grow-operations.

The officer estimated the 118 plants found in the basement ranged in sizes up to 2 feet or 3 feet high.

Officers also found grow equipment including lights and fertilizer and other drug paraphernalia.

The officer testified that someone identifying himself as Kuhns called him July 22 claiming he “wasn’t the cocaine kingpin in Livingston County” and he wanted to “provide information … to help himself out.” He said that caller’s voice was consistent with Kuhns, who fled the state and was eventually arrested in California.

Kuhns, who is being held on a $750,000 bond, is charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and felony firearms.